The Kokomo Tribune from Kokomo, Indiana • Page 16

B4 SATURDAY, FEB. 7,1998 SPORTS KOKOMO TRIBUNE They're the Reel McCoys when it comes to bowling in Kokomo Bob and Bill Reel are still going strong after 40-plus years. By GENE F. CONARD Tribune contributing writer There's something most refreshing about their approach to life that makes them delightfully different. Call it warmth, magnetism or plain ol' fashioned, 100 proof charm.

Whatever the case, Bob and Bill Reel have spent their lives making friends and influencing people, and the jury has been unanimous genuine, down-to-earth people, solid character, great experience. The Reel Brothers have befriended and influenced many people through association with patrons of their business, Reel's Alignment, and their considerable involvement in the Kokomo community. But one point has remained perfectly clear: They're old school types. They put a spin on nothing except for an extraneous activity that borders on fanaticism if not religion, bowling. Both fell in love with the game after graduation from Kokomo High School in the early 1950s, and the affliction has been permanent.

They've bowled in every conceivable manner of league play, competed in the farthest reaches of the United States and sponsored teams for 43 years. Come late February in Reno, Bill will compete in his 25th straight American Bowling Congress (ABC) tournament and be honored with an ABC patch. Bob is in his shadow he will be taking his 23rd consecutive ABC shot. It's been said that if the Reel properties caught fire, Bob and Bill would call their wives, Sondra and Ida, and plead: "Make sure you save our bowling balls." A joke, of course, but not at all farfetched. Bob graduated from KHS in '52 and got hooked on the game in '54.

Bill departed KHS in '56 and joined Bob in the craze in '57. Both their debuts came in the YMCA League and Crosstown Leagues at Sycamore Lanes because there were no high school youth leagues at that time. There was once a Reel's Texaco, and Bob, Bill, Chet and Kenny Reel and Don Fuel carried that banner. They were also pioneers of a scratch league at Don Lowry's old Play Bowl Lanes with a very good Kokomo Glass lineup that consisted of Dick Newton, Bob Williams, Tom Ayers, Bob and Bill. "My uncle Buddy bought my first ball," Bob recalled.

"It was a conventional grip Ebonite. I took it to Hindel Lanes in Indianapolis where some guy named Dick Weber drilled it for me." Bill got his first ball after he graduated. "I think it cost $24.95," he laughed. The Reels are fierce competitors who will battle your socks off to the final frame. Bill never practices but had a 692 City Tournament Championship series to his credit and pitched a gaudy 709 with a 264 in last year's state meet at Evansville.

He also has a high single of 289. Bob has a high series of 668 and a high single of 268. During any given week the Reels are likely 200-plus or 600-plus candidates. During Thursday's Outcast League, Bill, with his smooth, three- step approach, uncorked a 204-249225 678, fine, because down a few lanes daughter Debbie was turning a pair of 200s. Debbie's 17-year- old son and Bob and Bill's grandson, Tim Vandergriff, already has two 300 games to his credit.

The buzz goes on. Still, the game's sheer enjoyment is the No. 1 priority. "I like bowling 'cause I love being around people," 63-year-old Bob said. "We all want to score well and win, but it's the people who make it special." Bill, 60, offered with an impish grin: "I have fun, and if you can't handle that you can't bowl with me.

Everybody knows I'm a big cut-up, but I never interfere with anybody's game." As to the ABC, Bob said: "We make the ABC a family vacation. We've traveled to Texas, Florida, Niagara Falls twice, Ohio, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee and I forget the rest." In just a few weeks Bob and Bill will head a Kokomo caravan of some 24 ABC hopefuls, representing Goudy and Reel Alignment Nos. 1 and 2. Bill inserted, "Syracuse, N.Y., will host the 1999 ABC, and we've already made plans." Both happily recalled the Tampa, Fla, ABC in '79 when Bob, Bill, Chet, Joe, Robert, Todd and Pat made it an all-Reel Bill, left, and Bob Reel have left their mark in Kokomo bowling circles. (KT photo by Kevin Seifert) affair.

Oddly, Bob and wife Sondra and Bill and wife Ida have never bowled as a team, but Bill and Ida did win the 1987 City Mixed Doubles (1,134 scratch 1,248 handicap). Bob has served Kokomo bowling well as association president; has been though all the chairs and is in the Kokomo Bowling Association Hall of Fame. The Reels have also been heavily involved in Kokomo youth baseball from T-Ball to Connie Mack to American Legion. They helped build North Side LL, and were involved in the Legion World Series at Highland Park. But the sound of ball meeting pins is still their favorite rap.

It struck four decades ago and the imprint is forever. "Bowling is what you make it," Bob said. "Have fun, and what happens, happens." Bill added: "The alleys are flat, the ball is round and there's no wind or umpires. How can you lose?" Morton Construction To the Local Public and to all Builders Offer Services for the Independent Builder Framing Roofing Siding 'oil' Hjirns NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL Specializing in Residential, Production, Custom Homes, Commercial Buildings and Garages Visit us on the World Wide Web at http://www.ktonline.com I 3 Months $2995 $5995 $7 .00 Single Visit isiK Come experience the difference of our facility! No Appointment Necessary S. Lafountain 453-3617 BILUTIONS Hair Design Day Spa Tanning Salon Youth ioccer fign-Upi For Boys Girls ages 4-18! Recreational Soccer POLK ATiiurnt i February 7th 14th 9:00 am Noon at the PAL field (35'20 Coaches Needed Also.

Kite, Love share lead in rain-delayed event SAN DIEGO (AP) The Spanish explorer Balboa clearly wasn't thinking about the PGA Tour's West Coast swing when he named the body of water off California the Pacific Ocean. There has been nothing pacific, calm or tranquil about the last two weeks on tour. The West Coast Swing is now the Wet Coast Swing. Just days after the Pebble Beach tournament was blown from February into August by El Nino, the second round of the Buick Invitational was washed out Friday when the greens at Torrey Pines became too wet to play. Tom Kite, helped greatly in cold, windy rain by eye surgery that allows him to now play without glasses, was 9 under par through 29 holes, tied for the lead with Davis Love III, who had played 27 holes before play was suspended shortly after noon.

Steve Pate, Robert Damron and Jeff Sanday playing in his first PGA Tour event were at 8 under. Pate and Damron had played 28 holes and Sanday had completed 26. Seven players, including Payne Stewart and Stewart Cink, were at 7 under. Tiger Woods, who started the day nine strokes back, got to 4 under through 30 holes to pull within five of the leaders. Fuzzy Zoeller, who started the day one stroke off the lead at 9 under, was 4 over par for the 12 holes he played in Friday's mess and was 5 under through 30 holes.

The second round will be resumed at early today then the cut will be made and the third round played. What's not clear, however, is if the storm will set up camp and stay around for a few days like it did at Pebble Beach. Kite was perhaps the only player to find a silver lining in the rain clouds. "I've got a whole different perspective on playing in the rain now," Kite said about the surgery that corrected his eyesight. "These days used to wipe me out." Kite had the operation two weeks ago "and when I woke up I had better than 20-20 eyesight," he said.

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